Field Force Interview

Contacted my Field Force representative to set up an interview. The FF representative said they would do the interview after the nomination process was complete. This is different for me than before anyone have info as to why.

Contacted my Field Force representative to set up an interview. The FF representative said they would do the interview after the nomination process was complete. This is different for me than before anyone have info as to why.

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That's different than my DS's experience. Perhaps, the FFR is just focusing on those who have a chance of getting an appointment and is using the nomination as a screening method.

Contacted my Field Force representative to set up an interview. The FF representative said they would do the interview after the nomination process was complete. This is different for me than before anyone have info as to why.

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Is the FFR interview required to complete the USMA package ? I seem to recall "NO". Could the know-how comment on this ? Thanks.

FFRs are spread thin when compared to ALOs and BGOs, thus it is likely that they wait to do interviews (if at all) until candidates have gotten pass a point in the application process.
As for me, the FFR interview never materialized and I was still appointed.
The bottom line is that I wouldn't worry about not getting an interview and if you get an interview, prepare for it like you would for a BGO/ALO interview.

I think each FFR is different. My DS's FFR called him out of the blue in July. She said that she was calling all her competitive applicants to encourge them to apply as soon as possible. She also noted that my DS attended SLE and said that he could just rely on the eval from SLE. She also offered to do her own FFR interview and eval to supplement the SLE eval.

For lurkers, don’t read too much into the SLE evaluations in lieu of FFR interviews. Couple of reasons:

One, those evaluations are taken with a grain of salt. They’re a training tool for cadet upperclassmen, with the clear recognition that these cadets are not experienced evaluators. So the write-ups are not the “end all, be all.” Can they affect your candidacy? Perhaps — if you were spectacularly bad or spectacularly good at SLE. Otherwise, don’t worry about it.

Two, not every highly qualified candidate is accepted to SLE, which is primarily a recruiting tool. Many attendees have great credentials, but many are from regions or groups that are not well represented at USMA. So again, don’t worry about it.

Contacted my Field Force representative to set up an interview. The FF representative said they would do the interview after the nomination process was complete. This is different for me than before anyone have info as to why.

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I think Field Force interview is optional. If the rep would like to have the interview before the nomination interview then I would recommend to go for it. Most likely the representative will have some type of communication to the nomination committee. My son is the plebe. He did not set up the interview with the rep. After the nomination interview I have the above impression. But it is always nice to get to know the rep because he/she would be able to help the candidate to navigate through the system.

I think it also depends on the Field Force Representative (FFR). My DS met his FFR during an Academy Day in his Junior Year as well as his RC. Both have always been available to him to answer questions. His FFR called and communicated with him, like for one hour, right before my DS was leaving to NASS, he took the time to discuss my DS's summer plans, SLE, and Boy States. He told my DS he was being considered for an LOA. My DS got his first LOA email on May 31 and his LOA August 6. The FFR called again after DS returned home from Boy States. He is at every WP event in our area, and you can see how involved and passionate he is about the whole process. My DS still does not have a nomination, and our representative lost the elections before setting up the interviews. DS will not make it to any of the academies without a nomination, and if that is the case, DS will not regret the grueling application process and all the sacrifices he had made these last 11 months, just because of the people he had met, especially his FFR.